Conversation 781-026

TapeTape 781StartMonday, September 18, 1972 at 1:12 PMEndMonday, September 18, 1972 at 1:25 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Ehrlichman, John D.Recording deviceOval Office

AI Summary

President Nixon and John Ehrlichman discussed political strategy regarding welfare reform legislation, specifically focusing on the administration's messaging and the potential fallout of failing to pass a bill before Congress adjourns. Nixon expressed skepticism toward the current congressional prospects and directed Ehrlichman to coordinate a public relations strategy and handle communications with legislative leadership. They also touched upon scheduling concerns related to upcoming meetings with Elliot Richardson and potential political risks associated with ongoing hearings, such as the General John D. Lavelle case.

Welfare reform1972 presidential electionCongressional relationsPolitical strategyPublic relationsGeneral John D. Lavelle hearings

Audio

NARA Description

On September 18, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:12 pm and 1:25 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 781-026 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 781-26

Date: September 18, 1972
Time: Unknown between 1:12 pm and 1:25 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President talked with John D. Ehrlichman.

            The President's schedule

            Welfare reform
               -Concessions
               -Popular opinion
               -1972 election
               -Memorandum
                    -Congressional adjournment
               -Strategy
                    -Congress
                         -Harry S. Truman

            The President's schedule

                                        (rev. Oct-06)

                 -September 19, 1972 meeting with Congressional leaders
                     -Public opinion
                         -Alexander P. Butterfield
                         -Hugh Scott
                              -Possible leak
                 -September 18, 1972 meeting with Elliot L. Richardson
                     -Department of Health, Education, and Welfare [HEW]
                     -Memorandum
                         -Ehrlichman
                     -Foreign policy
                         -Alexander M. Haig, Jr.’s schedule
                         -Gen. John D. Lavelle hearings
                         -Interim agreement [a strategic arms limitation]
                         -Henry A. Kissinger

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[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 2m 10s     ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

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Transcript (AI-Generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.

I don't see it in the game.

I think most people in the welfare period, anything that seems to offer more, 24 to 26 years, that even sounds like

I couldn't agree more.

In fact, if I had been asked earlier, I would have said, why the hell are we trying to get them in?

Anyway, this idea that Republicans have a record

He ran behind the Congress.

He was.

But now my situation is running far ahead of the Congress.

The longer it stays in, the lighter it will be.

Yeah.

Well, I'll tell you what I'm for.

I can't get the right kind of a bill out of this Congress.

I need to know what our public, what we want to tell the public.

That's what I need to tell Scott Leake, what we say privately.

So what do you, do you want to repeat it at 8 o'clock?

Perhaps you want to, you can tell me sometime this afternoon.

Maybe after we meet with Elliot, you stay on.

Yes, I ran a problem device so that you could get the feel for what these people really thought about what they should know.

And we can go to that time.

As a matter of fact, what I'll try to do, what I think I'd rather do, since I can't vote least directly, is to throw the ball to you and you rule over the damn things.

Could you do that for me?

Now, the only other thing is that we have nine.

I've already talked to Alex about this.

And I was wondering if it might be useful to have, hey, I don't know, is the LaBelle hearing or something, is there anything affordable to see people coming out there?

Yeah.

What do you want to do with the records?

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